Group Work

I have never had a group assignment in a class I have instructed by myself before. I have TAed for classes where groups had to make videos and whatnot, but I never really had to facilitate the actual project. In comm 1020, I get to do this for the first time and I am somewhat pleased with the results. I have had 3 groups present and, for the most part, they have put a lot of work into it. However, I found out after the presentation that one person did not contribut to the group. I had to inform their members that they should have told me earlier in the game because there really wasn't much I could do about it now.

I really dislike assigning group projects. Perhaps this is something uniquely american, but I feel like they are just a waste of time. I was always put into groups where I would do the most work and everyone else would get the credit and yes this is how real life works, but school really isn't real life. I think low stakes group work is great, but big graded projects are just silly. It means more busy work for the instructor, more work for the students and not really a lot they take from it other than "boy I hate working in groups". I would much rather have more individual presentations. Also, trying to grade a group project is like hell on Earth. How does one fairly grade a group of 5 people? Also, with speech presentations, how do you even remember what people said?

It is a frustrating situation.